SCOTS ebola victim Pauline Cafferkey showed signs of improvement last night as she continued to fight for her life in hospital.

Ms Cafferkey, 39, remained in a critical condition in a special isolation unit at the Royal Free Hospital in north London.

But last night hopes were raised after UK Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt told MPs her condition had “stabilised”.

Ms Cafferkey, from Cambuslang, near Glasgow, is being treated with an experimental anti-viral drug and blood plasma from fellow British volunteer nurse William Pooley, who survived the disease.

But doctors have been unable to obtain ZMapp, the drug used to successfully treat Mr Pooley, because global stocks have been exhausted.

Ms Cafferkey was admitted to Gartnavel General Hospital in Glasgow after becoming well.

She was transferred to the London hospital on December 30.

Last night Professor Jonathan Ball, an expert in molecular virology at the University of Nottingham, said: “It’s great news that her condition has stabilised but she still remains in a critical condition so the coming hours and days will be crucial.

“Hopefully, the excellent team of clinicians caring for her will be able to buy sufficient time for her to be able to mount a good immune response that would eventually clear the virus.”

There’s very little medical science can do to change the outcome. We don’t have any surefire answers to ebola

Dr Ben Neuman

Doctor Ben Neuman, a virologist from the University of Reading, said: “At this point it’s about a 50/50 chance that she makes it.

“There’s very little medical science can do to change the outcome. We don’t have any surefire answers to ebola. “Some people will be resistant, other’s won’t. A lot of it depends on genetics.”

In an update to MPs, Mr Hunt said: “Pauline’s condition has deteriorated to a critical state although she stabilised yesterday and continues to receive the best possible care.

“She said in Sierra Leone that she hoped her loved ones would be proud of her. Well, she should know today the whole country is proud of her for her bravery and dedication to the service of others. She stands, quite simply, for the very best of NHS values.”

Mr Hunt also announced that any NHS volunteer returning from Sierra Leone, Liberia or Guinea who feels unwell on their return to the UK would now be referred to a specialist for further assessment, even if they do not have a high temperature.

Despite her complaining of a fever at Heathrow, seven checks failed to pick up definite ebola symptoms and Ms Cafferkey was allowed to fly from Heathrow to Glasgow. Procedures at airports have now been changed.

Ms Cafferkey worked with Save the Children at the Ebola Treatment Centre in Kerry Town, Sierra Leone.